An overview of the different approaches to cancer risk assessment of environmental factors - including "-omics" technologies, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the methods in different fields. The main focus is on the carcinogenic effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, demonstrating the difficulties in accurately assessing those factors that may or may not pose a significant cancer risk. The book extends the view to a broader context of risk assessment, highlighting various aspects of risk management. Written by leading experts in the field, this is a resource for policy makers and professionals in health risk assessment, and public health workers, as well as oncologists and researchers in academia.

Günter Obe was a full professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen from 1988 until his retirement in 2004. He obtained his degree from the Free University Berlin in 1967, where he was a professor from 1974 onwards. His field of research focused on cytogenetics, such as in vitro induction of chromosomal aberrations, cytogenetic population monitoring of persons exposed to suspected mutagens, and mechanisms of the origin of chromosomal aberrations. Burkhard Jandrig gained his degree in biochemistry from the University of Leipzig. From 1982 until 1991 he was a research associate and group leader at the Institute of Cancer Research Berlin, working in the areas of chemical carcinogenesis and multidrug resistance. From 1992 through 2010 he held the same positions at the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. His research activities are in the fields of molecular carcinogenesis, tumor genetics, tumor virology and bioethics.Gary Marchant is the Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law and Ethics at the Sandra Day O´Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where he is also a professor of life sciences and executive director of the Center for Law, Science & Innovation. Professor Marchant teaches and researches in the subject areas of environmental law, risk assessment and risk management, genetics and the law, biotechnology law, food and drug law, legal aspects of nanotechnology, and law, sciences and technology. Holger Schütz studied educational sciences at the Technical University of Braunschweig. From 1986 to 1990 he worked at the Institute of Psychology, Technical University of Berlin, and has been at the Research Center Jülich since 1990. His research focuses on risk perception and risk communication, comparative assessment of environmental health risks, and evidence assessment. Peter Wiedemann is a psychologist and professor at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, teaches at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and a former president of the Society of Risk Analysis, Europe. His research and teaching activities focus on risk perception, risk communication, and precautionary risk management, as well as on risk and sustainability issues.

PrefaceIntroductionMODELS AND APPROACHESModels of cancer development: genetic and environmental influences (Jandrig)Endogenous DNA damage and its relevance for the initiation of carcinogenesis (Epe, Fusser)The IARC Monographs Programme: cancer-hazard identification as a first step in cancer-risk assessment and cancer prevention (Baan, Cogliano)EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCHThe role of epidemiology in cancer risk assessment of non-ionising radiation (Schüz, Berg-Beckhoff, Schlehofer, Blettner)The role of epidemiology in cancer risk assessment of ionizing radiation (Wakeford)